St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-07-14
RECENT DEATHS.

HASTINGS Hastings, after
somewhat extended illness, died at
the residence of DR.. s. T. Brooks
Thursday afternoon, at the age of 30.
The result was not unexpected as he
had been near his end for some days.
Lambert Hastings was born on what
is known as the Willard farm above
Paddock village, April 8, 1907. He
was a man of marked individuality,
and though not known in public life
he probably had a more extended ac-
quaintance among the farming and
cattle raising population of Vermont
than any other man of his time. His
boyhoOd was spent in st. Johnsbury,
but when still young he went to Bos-
ton and was employed in a stable until
his 2lst year when he returned and
to the business of farming that of buy-
ing and selling cattle. 1t was as a
drover that Mr.. Hastings was best
known. In those early days railroads
were unknown hereabOuts, and the
cattle gathered from all parts of the
country we're driven to the Brighton
market. A week was required for the
journey and these trips brought Mr..
Hastings into intimate relations with
farmers and traders the country over.
Among them he was known as "Uncle
Lambert" whose Judgment on cattle
was considered indisputable and whose
word in matters of money and trade
was accepted without question. AS
the railroads gradually extended into
the state his business operations be-
came more extended though requiring
less travel, until finally when the road
reached st. JOhnsbury, Monday be-
came regular market day and entire
trains were often loaded with his cat
tie. He was man of untiring energy,
working early and late and of unswerv-
ing integrity. Large interests were
intrusted to his care and no one ques-
toned the returns he made. This
business he continued for so years be-
ing engaged from time to time in lum
bering and other enterprises. Though
in no sense public man he represent
ed ST. Johnsbury two years in the leg
islature, was for number of years
Overseer of the poor and two or three
years selectman. Some 40 years ago
he bought the present Lambert Hast
ings place and about eight years ago
retired from business and with his
wife has made it his home with DR.. S.
Il. Brooks, Mrs. Brooks being Mrs.
Hastings daughter by previous mar
riage. Many of the older residents of
st. Johnsbury will recall the days
when Mr.. Hastings was one of the
prominent men of the place. 1t was
not an uncommon thing to meet him
on the trains with his pockets filled
with bank notes, paying off his dro-
vers or settling accounts with cattle
men. Honest himself he assumed that
others were equally honest, and gener-
ally took mans word as to the
amount due him, and it seemed to af-
ford him as much pleasure to make a
good trade for customer as for him.
self. The dinners that he used to serve
the farmers of those days when they
came in on Monday with their cattle,
was another feature of the life of those
days and evidence of his own generOs-
ity and kind heartedness.
Mr.. Hastings was twice married,
first to Martha HOlton, who died in
1913. To them were born Hubbard
Hastings I'd, who died a few years ago,
and two daughters who are still living,
Mrs. j. B. Rogers of Milburn, N. j.,
and Mrs. George HI. Colby of Lancas-
ter, N. H. In 1874 he married Mrs.
Myra c. Mills of Lunenburg, who sur
wives him. To them were born three
sons, all living, Henry G. Hastings of
ST. JOhnsbury, Albert w. Hastings of
Claremont, N. III. Funeral services
were held at DR.. SBroOks's Saturday
forenoon conducted by Rev. G. M. Lam
son, who paid a high and deserved
tribute to the character of the deceas-
ed, emphasizing particularly his integ-
rity and pure mindedness.
| EATON.-JOsie Walker Eaton, wife of
Geo. E. Eaton formerly of Danville,
died at her home in Troy, N. Y, Fri
day morning under peculiarly sad and
painful circumstances. Though not in
robust health she was about as well as
usual and was completing arrange
ments for her summer visit to her old
home in Danville. She had intended
starting the day before her death but
had delayed going a day and retired
Thursday night as usual. At mid
night she requested her husband to get
her glass of water and at 3 a. m
made similar request, in neither in
stance exciting suspicion of serious ill
ness. Shortly after, however, Mr.
Eaton became convinced that all was
not right, others were called in and
every thing possible was done, but a
a. m. she was dead. The cause O
death was undoubtedly heart disease
The telegram announcing her death
was received by her mother, Mrs. Phi
10 Walker of Danville Friday morning
who remarked before reading that i
probably named the hour of her daugh
ter's expected arrival. The shocl